TIPS ABOUT TECH SUPPORT SCAMS

■ If you receive an unsolicited phone call or email about your computer, it is most likely a scam.

■ If you receive an unsolicited pop-up message on your computer, examine it closely and look for signs that it may be fake. They include misspellings and bad grammar, or poor-quality graphics and images.

■ Examine emails in the same way, because scammers may be trying to trick you into clicking on a link or opening a file.

■ Microsoft says its error messages and warnings never include a phone number.

■ Symantec, which makes Norton antivirus software, says it will call you only if you request a call.

■ Search online for the number you are asked to call. If other people have reported that number, it might come up as a suspected scam.

■ Search online for the address where you are asked to send a payment. If it is a house, you might want to think twice.

■ If you are tricked into giving someone remote access to your computer, change the passwords on your bank account and other accounts.

■ If you are scammed, contact your bank and the FTC, where you can file an online complaint. The Better Business Bureau also has a scam tracker.

■ Take notes and save paperwork, which could come in handy when you’re filing a complaint.

SOURCE: SYMANTEC, MICROSOFT, MERCURY NEWS RESEARCH